Crash: Northwoods, Book 2

by Grant C. Holland

  It was the closest Hal would come to a compliment from his father on his choices for the apartment. He would take it. Hal accumulated points whenever and wherever he could. If he gathered enough, his father kept his distance. That was the best of all worlds.

  “I also heard that you ventured into the backcountry in a canoe. My boy needed iron balls to do that. Sometimes when you were growing up, I questioned what kind of man you could be, but that act demonstrated real spirit. It played well back home, too. Your mother worried as always, but most others were proud of you.”

  Hal tried to avoid frowning. About a week ago, he would have been happy to talk about his two canoe trips. Now, the subject was too painful. He hoped that Gabe would wait for him until after the November election, but it was far from a guarantee. It didn’t take superior intelligence for Hal to recognize that Gabe was a great catch. A good man might be waiting for him just around the corner.

  “I followed a suggestion, Sir,” said Hal. “Somehow, Trent agreed with me. The forest and lakes here left me speechless multiple times. Maybe you should consider a trip.”

  Hal, Sr. laughed out loud. It was a booming sound that threatened to rattle the windows, and it startled Hal. He realized he’d rarely heard his father laugh without restraint. He wasn’t quite sure what was so funny about his proposal, but he enjoyed hearing the cheerful sound.

  “Could you see me in a canoe? I rarely find myself wearing anything other than a wool suit unless it’s a black-tie affair. Jeans and a flannel shirt might cause a rash.” Hal, Sr. winked at his son.

  “We’ll cross the canoe trip off of your agenda while you’re here in Minnesota.”

  “That would be wise.”

  Hal, Sr. leaned forward, and his face tensed. It was a clear sign that he wanted to address a critical topic. “There is one primary reason why I made the trip here. I am quite happy to see you and understand more about the territory that will send you to Washington, but that’s all secondary.”

  “I’ve been wondering myself what prompted you to head to what you and mother both call ‘flyover territory.’”

  “I received a distress call. In actuality, it was more of an email message.”

  “From whom?”

  “Your campaign manager.”

  Hal instantly frowned. Trent told him that he was ready to move on when Hal agreed not to spend time with Gabe until after the elections. Unless something else was brewing that Hal knew nothing about, Trent spilled the beans about his relationship. He’d been outed by his campaign manager.

  “Is he concerned that I might lose the election?” Hal decided to play dumb as long as he could. He didn’t want to validate any of Trent’s ridiculous concerns. He hoped that Trent was discreet and said something like his candidate was spending too much time hanging out with a friend away from the trail.

  Hal, Sr. stroked his chin. “How do I put this? It wasn’t something I thought I would ever have to address with one of my children.”

  “Do you think I’m a slacker? Trent does complain when I try to take a break instead of keeping my nose to his grindstone 24 hours a day.”

  “It’s not that.”

  “What is it, then?” The only thing worse than having his father blurt out that he knew that his son expressed interest in a man was having him beat around the bush.

  “I’ll say it directly. I don’t know any other way to do it. Trent is concerned that you’ve developed an unhealthy association with the man who assisted you after your accident.”

  “My accident? Is that what we’re calling the horrific plane crash today?”

  Hal, Sr. frowned. “It was a most unfortunate occurrence, but you survived it, and I must say you look more hale and hearty than ever. You even have a tan. Anyway, that’s not the topic here. The subject is a man named Gabriel. I believe that’s what Trent said.”

  A defensive posture welled up inside Hal. “Gabe. Call him Gabe. Everyone does, and there is no association right now. The friendship, what there was of it, might be over for good, and I don’t know how I feel about that. I agreed with Trent, and I cut things off. I asked Gabe to press pause. Are you satisfied?”

  As the words tumbled out of his mouth, Hal’s voice rose in pitch. However, none of the emotion in his voice rattled his father. If allowed, he would have sat motionless except for one hand holding a cigar. Instead, he continued to drum the fingers of his left hand on the arm of the lounger.

  The use of formal names continued. It was a measure of Hal, Sr.’s concern. Fortunately, he left the topic of Gabe almost as soon as he brought it up. It was his style. His audience always understood what actions they should take, even when they didn’t receive specific instructions.

  “Harold, I’m not here to make your life miserable. I promised your mother that I wouldn’t do that. We’re both proud of you and your campaign. I’ve viewed the footage of the rallies. While it took you a few appearances to get up to speed, your recent performances are stellar.”

  Hal couldn’t remember the last time his father said that he was proud. He always expected his son to excel, and when he didn’t, Hal heard the frustration and even anger. Pride was new—and rare. It knocked Hal for a loop, and the ground began to shift under his feet.

  “Thank you, Dad.” Hal also couldn’t remember the last time he referred to his father with such an affectionate title.

  “For?”

  “Coming to see me and letting me know how you feel about my campaign. I hope you’ll visit me in Washington.”

  “We’ll be there to help you move in.” The smile Hal saw on his father’s face was so unusual that he feared it might cause cracks in the weathered skin. Perhaps his father’s entire firm facade would crumble to dust right there in the living room.

  “I’m going to win.”

  “What’s that? My hearing isn’t what it used to be.”

  Hal knew that his father heard the words, but he decided to play along. The smile and pride filled his chest with a warm sensation.

  “I’m going to win this election. It won’t even be close. We’ll take it running away. As Trent says, it’s in the bag.”

  “That’s my boy.”

  20

  Gabe

  “I thought the nachos worked. It looks like they didn’t.”

  Elle glanced up at Gabe as he approached his favorite table in the Lost Loon. Elle, Brandon, and Levi were discussing the latest group tours they’d led into the wilderness over coffee. Gabe’s appearance interrupted their thoughts.

  Gabe heard Elle’s comment, but he declined to respond. He seated himself next to Levi and then lowered his head onto his hands at the table. Levi pressed his lips together and reached out to place a hand on Gabe’s shoulder.

  “Damn, it looks bad,” said Brandon. “I thought I tried to warn you, buddy, but…”

  Elle held up her right hand and whispered, “Not now.”

  Brandon quickly stopped himself from saying more. Instead, he asked, “Can I buy you coffee?”

  Gabe didn’t respond until Levi shook his shoulder.

  “Yeah, I guess so. I want it black with nothing else.”

  “Wow,” said Brandon. “That only happens when things are awful. I remember that you were like this for a couple of days after that family’s horrible plane crash down in Duluth.”

  Elle reached across the table and gently tugged on Gabe’s forearm. “Hey, is there anything else that happened? I thought you were in a fairly settled mental place after you left my apartment the other night.”

  Gabe remained silent until Brandon returned with the coffee. The aroma and the anticipation of the Loon’s expert brew gave him a slight burst of energy. He raised his head.

  “I should have known from the start. I’m not a guy meant to have a relationship. I should have figured it out sooner. Doesn’t every group of friends have one? Isn’t that the way it goes?”

  Brandon’s brow wrinkled. “Who told you that? I don’t think there’s any rule for any particular grou
p of friends.”

  Gabe reached up and wiped at the corner of his left eye. He could feel a tear there, but he didn’t want to shed it in public. He cried enough the night before to last a month.

  “Who would take care of all of you if I was too busy with some guy like Levi?”

  “Hey, why pick on me?” Levi smirked and pulled his hand back from the shoulder.

  “I’m not picking on you, but I’m sort of serious about it. I’m good at taking care of people. I’m even better when the chips are down, and it’s an emergency. Don’t you all agree?”

  The three friends looked at each other, and they all nodded. “We do rely on you a lot,” said Elle, “but I don’t think I see the connection between the two. If you were considering someone who wouldn’t let you continue to keep an eye on us, we’d have words. Instead, I always hope we’ll luck out, and we’ll have two awesome guys to watch out for us.”

  Brandon whispered, “I can’t say I’m upset that you finally came to your senses on…”

  Elle reached out and slapped Brandon’s cheek. “What’s wrong with you?”

  Gabe nearly cracked a smile for the first time he could remember in almost a week. “Be careful, and don’t injure him. He’s the only best friend that I’ve got.” Gabe didn’t like Brandon’s continued dislike of Hal, but he knew that Brandon would always be there for him in the end.

  Elle said, “And right now, Brandon, you’re acting like an ass. You’re usually a great boss, too, but let’s hope this is a temporary case of demonic possession. I don’t want to think you made those comments on purpose.” Elle elbowed Brandon to punctuate her statement.

  “Guys—thank you. I appreciate the support. That’s why I came to the Loon today. It was hard to get myself into the truck, but you’ve made it worth it. Any day that Brandon gets slapped…”

  Levi chuckled. “Is the one you don’t want to miss.”

  Brandon held up both hands. “Okay, we’ve had our fun and games, but let’s not turn this into a pile on Brandon session. Gabe, how about a Twins game next month on me?”

  “You might need a female presence to make that a worthwhile excursion,” said Elle.

  “And don’t forget your boyfriend,” added Levi.

  “Oh hell, I’ll spring for all of you. Was this all a plan to wring something out of me?”

  Gabe let a grin fill up the rest of his face. “I think you’re a little paranoid, but yeah, let’s go with that explanation. We had a massive plan to blackmail you into taking us to a baseball game down in the cities.”

  Levi pushed the generosity a step further. “How about a couple of nights in a hotel?”

  “Now you’re going too far. There’s a saying about looking a gift horse in the mouth.”

  Gabe knew that Elle would probably recognize the sound of his truck engine. The vehicle was starting to show its age. While still reliable, its engine was noisier than in the past.

  Elle rented her apartment in a two-floor complex that formerly served as a family-oriented vacation resort. Each unit was a suite with one bedroom. The location was sublime. The pine forest backed the complex, and a lake was only a 20-minute portage away through the woods.

  Gabe parked and finally heard a good song on the radio. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and sang along with Madonna’s “Express Yourself.” Closing his eyes, he saw himself dancing in a club. Who’s that handsome man over in the corner. Is that Hal Brentwood? No, it can’t be.

  A knock on the window startled Gabe out of his fantasy. He blushed when he saw that it was Elle. He turned the key in the ignition enough to roll down the power window.

  “What’s up, Gabe? Did they evict you from your apartment?”

  “Umm, no. The radio station said they were going to play one of my favorite songs, and I had to wait for it. You know how well I like the sound system in my truck.”

  “Not half as much as what you’ve got at home. What’s up with you? I don’t remember you ever stalking me here in the past.”

  “Maybe you’ll believe that I found a roach and had to fumigate my apartment. You know it’s a few hours before you can safely return.”

  Elle frowned. “Maybe I’ll believe that you’re not telling the truth, and that isn’t like you. It worries me a bit. Get out of the truck and come up to the apartment with me. I won’t take no for an answer.”

  “Is this interrogation time?”

  “If you want it to be.”

  Gabe pulled the key out of the ignition and exited the vehicle. With his head hanging low, he followed Elle to her apartment.

  As they walked, Gabe remembered a few times as a little boy when he was scared in the middle of the night. Sometimes it was fear that monsters lived under his bed or of the shadows of tree branches that waved in the moonlight. He’d pad downstairs and hang out by the door of his parents’ bedroom until his mom woke up and asked him what was scary.

  Elle pointed at the sofa. “Sit. Would you like a beer?”

  “Water is fine for right now.”

  As she returned to the living room with a glass of water in her hand for Gabe and a beer for herself, Elle said. “Something is wrong about this picture. I don’t remember you ever turning down a beer in the evening.”

  “I don’t know. I went home, and all I did was pace around the living room. I couldn’t think of anything to do.”

  “In the fun factory?”

  Gabe’s eyebrows furrowed. “Where’s that?”

  “That’s my new name for your apartment. You’ve got the computer games and that big-screen TV. Then there’s whatever happens on that king-sized bed, but I don’t want to discuss that.”

  “It doesn’t look like much fun to me right now. I guess that’s why I left.”

  “So this is about Hal. I thought you were doing pretty well after nachos and then at the Loon. The Twins game arrangement is a great idea, but you can’t shake Hal.”

  “It was a great idea. I let it roll over me, but that lasted for about as long as it took to drive home.” Words began to tumble unimpeded out of Gabe’s mouth. “What the hell is wrong with me? I have a gift for digging up men who are more into their ridiculous jobs than falling in love. First, there was Brandon and now Hal. Maybe I do need to leave the woods. I should get far away from all of it.”

  Elle placed her beer on the coffee table and held up both hands. “Whoa now. Let’s slow this pony cart down to a trot. First, there is nothing wrong with you at all. If you were straight, I’d be all over that handsome face and body. You’re also the sweetest man I know.” She leaned forward and whispered, “Don’t you ever tell Nate that I said that.”

  Gabe continued to hang his head. “Thanks, but you’re my friend. You have to say shit like this.”

  Elle reached out and lifted Gabe’s chin. “And the career stuff. Maybe your timing is off. It might sound hokey, but there are more men than those two up here in the woods.”

  “But Hal. I know that some people might think I’m angling for money and power with him…”

  “Who’s saying that?”

  “I might if I were watching me.”

  Elle leaned back against her end of the sofa. “Okay, I’m going to tell you the first thing you’re going to do to turn this ship around.”

  “Is it worth it?”

  Elle laughed out loud. “I like that you’re a little stubborn when the chips are down, but right now, follow me. If I hear another negative comment, I’m going to slap you around. You know I can do it.”

  Gabe looked up with a half-smile on his face. “Yeah, I know you can. You’re right. I’m pathetic right now. Maybe I should make a dartboard with Hal’s face on it. I could add it to the…what did you call it?”

  “It’s a fun factory.”

  Gabe chuckled. “Yep, that’s it. I’ll add it to the fun factory.”

  “It’s okay to be angry. It’s fine to rail against the world. I give you full permission.”

  “But I hate doing that. We don’t live
in a bad place overall, and it’s not fair to…”

  Elle interrupted. “And you’re a good man, maybe even a great one. It’s not fair for you to have to deal with this shit.”

  Gabe started to come to his senses. “Maybe not.” He reached up and ran his fingers through his hair. “Maybe I should give it one more try. What do you think?”

  “I think I’ll be right behind you for support.”

  21

  Hal

  Hal spent nearly a full hour in the shower at his Ely apartment. He felt dirty, and the grime clung desperately to his body. Putting himself firmly in his father’s corner was the right thing to do. At least, it was what his parents taught him when growing up, but it left him feeling soiled and grimy. After an hour of scrubbing until his skin flushed pink, he still didn’t feel clean.

  When he finished trying to flush the ugly sensations from his system, Hal pulled on a bathrobe. He seated himself on the sofa and aimed the remote control at the TV.

  Before Hal could find a mindless show to watch, his cellphone chimed. It was Gabe.

  “I know we’re on pause and all, but can we have coffee as friends? Can I meet you at the Loon?”

  Hal let out a long sigh. The message confirmed his gut instinct that Gabe was an incredible man. He didn’t run screaming into the night like Hal expected when he delivered the “pause” decree. He wanted Gabe as a friend, and he wanted the warm hugs as a bonus feature.

  Hal typed back:

  “Of course. Let’s set it up.”

  It didn’t take long to hash out specific plans. Hal checked his schedule, and he scheduled a stop in at the Lost Loon on Thursday, two days in the future. Hal sent off a quick email message to Trent with the details and settled himself in for an evening of mindless TV.

  The sun shone brightly on Thursday morning. Weather forecasters pegged the high temperature for the day at 80 degrees. Although it would return after a short respite, the frigid Minnesota winter was gone and forgotten. The streets of Ely buzzed with crowds of tourists first thing in the morning.